Penalty Amount
$930,000
The FTC finalized orders requiring CMG Media Corporation (doing business as Cox Media Group), MindSift LLC, and 1010 Digital Works LLC to pay a total of $930,000 for falsely claiming they offered an AI-powered service that could target ads based on conversations captured from consumers' smart devices, and that consumers had opted into such targeting. The orders also prohibit the companies from making misrepresentations about their advertising services, voice data collection, and consumer consent.
The companies must pay a total of $930,000 (CMG $880,000, MindSift $25,000, 1010 Digital Works $25,000) to provide redress to affected customers. They are also prohibited from making any misrepresentation about the qualities or features of their advertising or marketing services, the collection and use of voice data, whether consumers have consented to such collection, and the geographic targeting capabilities of their services.
In-house legal teams should review vendor and customer agreements related to marketing and advertising services, particularly those involving data collection from smart devices or voice data. Contracts should include accurate representations about data collection practices, require explicit consumer consent mechanisms, and include warranties that services comply with the FTC Act. Additionally, agreements with marketing partners should contain indemnification clauses for false or misleading claims about data collection or targeting capabilities, and should specify that any AI-powered features are accurately described.
Entity
CMG Media Corporation
Industry
AdvertisingOfficial Press Release
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/08/ftc-finalizes-orders-cox-media-group-two-other-firms-settling-charges-they-deceived-customers-about
CMGComplaintwithoutsignatures
https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/CMGComplaintwithoutsignatures.pdf
Mindsift Complaint withoutsignatures
https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Mindsift-Complaint-withoutsignatures.pdf
1010digitalworksllccomplaintwithoutsignatures
https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/1010digitalworksllccomplaintwithoutsignatures.pdf
2423029c4838cmgfinalorder
https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/2423029c4838cmgfinalorder.pdf
mindsift do final
https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/mindsift-do-final.pdf
1010digital do final
https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/1010digital-do-final.pdf
Federal Trade Commission Enforcement Page
https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement
"CMG Media Corporation, which does business as Cox Media Group"
"pay a total of $930,000"
"CMG must pay $880,000 while both MindSift and 1010 Digital Works must each pay $25,000"
"would itself violate the FTC Act"
"deceived customers by falsely claiming to offer an AI-powered service that could target localized ads based on conversations captured from consumers’ smart devices and that consumers had opted into such targeting."
"the marketing service wasn’t based on voice data, and consumers hadn’t opted into this service."
The FTC announced it is seeking public comment on a proposed enforcement policy statement regarding personalized pricing, which is the use of personal data to set prices based on what a company believes an individual consumer is willing to spend. The statement warns that undisclosed collection or use of personal data for personalized pricing could violate the FTC Act's prohibition on unfair or deceptive practices. The Commission voted 2-0 to authorize the Federal Register notice.
$4.0M
The FTC and Connecticut secured a $4 million settlement with Chase Nissan LLC (doing business as Manchester City Nissan) over allegations the dealership charged consumers unauthorized fees, including double-charging for 'certified pre-owned' vehicles and inserting charges like total loss protection into financing agreements without consent. The settlement requires $4 million in consumer redress, prohibits misrepresentations about vehicle certification and warranties, mandates prominent disclosure of the maximum total vehicle price, and requires express informed consent for all charges.
The FTC filed a complaint against Credit Glory LLC and related entities for deceptive credit repair practices, including false promises, impersonating debt collectors, charging illegal upfront fees, and using negative option billing without consent. A federal court temporarily halted the operation.
The FTC issued a policy statement abandoning disparate-impact liability, stating it will no longer bring claims based on this theory. It also modified compliance obligations for several companies based on past decisions.
The FTC, along with Utah and California, filed a complaint against Hims & Hers alleging the telehealth provider shared consumers' sensitive health information with third-party advertising platforms without consent, and deceived consumers about billing and cancellation practices. The complaint alleges violations of the FTC Act and the Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act.
$300K
The FTC alleged that Elite Events and Tickets LLC, doing business as Smart Scalpers, violated the Better Online Ticket Sales Act by circumventing security measures to bypass ticket purchase limits for over 2,400 events, reselling tickets at a profit. The proposed order requires payment of $300,000 (with a total penalty of $10.7 million partially suspended) and permanently prohibits the company and its owners from engaging in such circumvention tactics.